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Meditation is not just for a select few or particularly spiritual people. Nowadays, one can observe its peculiar renaissance and intense growth in popularity in various regions of the world. Some scientific circles have also taken an interest in this topic, which has led to extremely interesting conclusions. The results of the study clearly indicate that it has a number of “side effects” in the form of beneficial effects on health – both mental and physical.
Not just a mood booster
Numerous scientific publications confirm that meditation is effective in lowering stress and anxiety levels and improving mood and concentration by reducing emotional reactivity. As a result, it can be used to treat depressive and anxiety disorders, as well as eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.
It has also been observed to have a positive effect on patients experiencing chronic pain, as well as an overall reduction in sensitivity to pain stimuli. Harvard researchers, in a paper published in 2018, presented evidence that simply clearing the mind for 15 minutes each day can make changes in gene function. Their study showed that people who meditated for a period of eight weeks experienced a significant change in the function of 172 genes that regulate inflammation, circadian rhythms and glucose metabolism. This, in turn, was associated with a significant drop in blood pressure.
Professor Robert Schneider of Maharishi International University in Iowa conducted a study of a group of people suffering from coronary artery disease for five years. The study found a 48 percent decrease in the overall risk of heart attack and stroke among members of the group attending Transcendental Meditation classes compared to those who attended health education classes. Meditators experienced an average decrease of 4.9 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure compared to the control group, and also reported a decrease in stress levels and experiencing other negative emotions such as anger.
Effect of meditation on the brain
Observations by psychoneurologist Professor Richard J. Davidson published in 2004 by Stanford University showed that meditation is able to contribute to the regeneration of the gray matter in the brain and prevent its loss. Loss of gray matter has a negative impact on such mental functions as control of emotions, drives, movement and thinking processes. Other studies have confirmed that meditation speeds up metabolism, helps reduce inflammation, relieves premenstrual syndrome and the negative symptoms that accompany menopause. It can even slow down the rate of HIV progression and the cellular aging process.
Beneficial effects of meditation
The journal Neuroimage has numerous publications confirming the beneficial effects of meditation on cognitive function and brain age. Surprising results indicate that the brains of regular meditators are “younger” than those of younger age non-meditators.
